May 22, 2018

Step-by-step-step instructions to make your own pollen snow globe, brought to you by Achoo! Why Pollen Counts, and Shennen Bersani. There are two versions, one very inexpensive and easy, the other a bit more complicated using more supplies. Either way you can use repurposed used containers. Just wash them out and they are ready to go!

Here are the supplies I used. You can get very elaborate, or very simple. I’ve used some little animals to create a forest environment.

I selected plastic and silk flowers to create a forest in the jar. In one of my snow globes I used green felt for the grass. In another globe I used this fancy ‘fairy’ grass.

After you have your supplies you will want to color in your airborne critters. Get as fancy and creative as you’d like!

I painted a coat of gold glitter fingernail polish on mine to give them a shimmering effect.

Now cut out your critters.

Glue them back to back. When they sway they will show from any direction.

Once the glue dries sew a short piece of string to each one.

Use a piece of duct, or other strong tape, to attach the string to the underneath of the lid.

Add glitter!

Screw on the lid and shake! Don’t add water, pollen floats in the AIR. This globe was made using a used jelly jar. This is an inexpensive and easy pollen snow globe. You might want to glue the lid in place so little tykes don’t open and spill onto your rug!

Now I’m going to make a couple more advanced globes. Repurpose used containers. Here I’m cutting a piece of felt to use as grass.

I’m adding glue, I am wearing gloves to keep my hands clean. You can also use a hot glue gun.

I’ve glued down the felt, added fake flowers, and now I’m adding the glitter.

Secure the lid and enjoy! Once you are finished have fun shaking and playing with your globes!

If you enjoyed this craft check out my Night Creepers firefly craft here. Print out both coloring sheets and mix & match to create your own unique projects, just like Heather and Ivy did! Love their craft!

Scroll down for my interview with LitPick. Check out their fabulous video review!

Achoo! Why Pollen Counts has received two 5 star reviews from student reviewers at LitPick. This earns the book their highest honor, the LitPick Top Choice Book Review Award! Wow, I am so honored and excited! Here are the two reviews:

Achoo! Why Pollen Counts by Shennen Bersani is about a baby bear who comes out of his den in the spring, sneezing so much that he wishes pollen didn’t exist. When he meets up with his mom, she cleans him up and explains how important pollen is. Then he wanders around and meets all sorts of critters who explain why pollen is important to them too.

It’s a cute story with catchy language that is easy to understand and educational at the same time. It even has a “For Creative Minds” section at the end that has interesting information about allergies, pollination, and bees. A couple of activities about flower parts and pollinators make learning fun, and anyone can read more about allergies, pollen, insects, and bears if they look up resources listed in the bibliography that is included. The very best part of this book is its beautiful artwork. Happy pictures with bright colors and a swirling effect that mimics pollen in the air practically jump off every page.

Opinion: Achoo!Why Pollen Counts is written for children ages 5-8, but I can’t imagine who wouldn’t love this book (no matter how old they are)! It is a fantastic multi-purpose book that is perfect for anyone who enjoys nature or wants to know more about pollen. The artwork is detailed enough that young children can picture walk themselves through the basic story. Parents can help their children learn the names of specific creatures that they may not have seen before or do not know yet. Anyone could use it as a guide to help others understand allergy symptoms better, what pollen is, and how it’s used in nature. The more I read this book and looked at its pictures, the more detail I saw and the more I learned. It was like taking a real nature walk outdoors and finding something new to explore with every next step.

hawkreader10Age at time of review - 13 Reviewer's Location - Corning, New York, United States View hawkreader10's profile​Achoo! Baby Bear is allergic to pollen. And he gets covered in it as soon as he wakes up from his long winter hibernation! As he struggles to get rid of the sticky yellow dust covering his fur, Baby Bear decides he does NOT like pollen. He even says that he wishes pollen didn't exist. But as his other animal friends wake up, Baby bear learns that pollen does a lot more than just make him sneeze. In fact, many other animals and insects rely on pollen. His friends Sandy Spiderling, Zoe Zebra Butterfly, and some honey bee larvae even eat it! Will Baby Bear be able to use all his new knowledge to make the best of this “sticky” situation?

Opinion: At first, pollen might seem like a strange subject for a children’s book, but in Achoo! Why Pollen Counts by Shennen Bersani, the curious young reader will learn many interesting facts about pollen right along with Baby Bear. The easy to follow storyline and colorful pictures will engage young readers and help them learn about pollen in a fun way. Parents who are reading with their children will probably learn a lot, too.

Bersani packs a lot of scientific information into her story, while still keeping it at a level that young children can understand. Additional information and activity pages in the back of the book offer an opportunity for children to apply their new knowledge.

I would recommend this book for children three to seven years old to enjoy with their parents. Kids with allergies will be able to identify with Baby Bear and maybe see a brighter side to pollen.

My SIX MINUTE AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH LitPick

SIX MINUTES WITH SHENNEN BERSANI: Joining LitPick for Six Minutes with an Author is Shennen Bersani, author and illustrator of almost 30 books. Her book, Achoo! Why Pollen Counts, is perfect with spring right around the corner. One of our student reviewers gave it 5 out of 5 stars, saying, “It is a fantastic multi-purpose book that is perfect for anyone who enjoys nature or wants to know more about pollen.” -----***How did you get started writing?When I was very young, my parents sang songs to me. By the time I reached fourth grade, I was writing my own songs, composing them, and singing along with my guitar. As I grew older, I took creative writing classes and expanded my writing into stories. I always dreamed of being an author.***Who influenced you?My mother was my biggest influence. She encouraged me to keep journals. I filled my journals with poems, songs, stories, and drawings.***Do you have a favorite book/subject/character/setting?I am very fond of earth science, nature, and animals. I don’t have a particular favorite book, I simply love learning new things! I gobble up any books I can find on animals and their habitats. ***What advice do you have for someone who wants to be an author?Read, write, edit.Read as much as you possibly can. By reading the works of others, you get an understanding of what makes a successful poem, song, or story.Take a notebook along with you; you can keep one handy in your backpack. When rhymes, poems, or story ideas come to you just jot them down. Read your entries over at the end of the day. Add descriptions, including how you felt at the time, if you were happy, sad, tired, hungry; was it cold, hot, sunny, dark, or raining? Expand on these notes to write poems, stories, plays, books. Then comes the edits. This is the hardest part but most important. It is natural to feel your first draft is fabulous and couldn’t possibly be improved! You struggled over your words, selecting just the ‘right’ ones - and it took so darn long for Pete’s sake! There is no way you will want to change anything, it will kill you to do so! Wrong, and I’ll prove it. Set your first draft aside for a few days, a week, or a month... then reread it out loud to yourself. Time has a way of changing our perspective. You will now chuckle at yourself and find all sorts of words or sentences you will want to change and correct. Oops, there you missed a period, and there’s a misspelled word. I simply can’t stress how important edits are to improve your writing. I just wrote this answer over a dozen times. ***Where is your favorite place to write?I love sitting alone near my aquarium, surrounded by plants and photos of my family. I have this set up in my studio where I also illustrate books. I write out my research notes and my story arcs freehand on sheets of paper first, then type them up on my computer where I edit, edit, edit.

***What else would you like to tell us?Don’t ever get discouraged! Follow your dreams wherever they take you. I have piles of unpublished stories. The more books you read, the more you write, the better your writing becomes. Also research as much as possible. I crisscross the country doing research and asking people I meet countless questions. I try to learn as much as I can about a subject before I write about it. -----Thanks for joining us, Shennen. We love how your parents began by igniting this passion inside of you that you continued to fan into flame. Your advice about placing a first draft to the side is very helpful, and we know it will benefit many students and other writers. We look forward to your next book featuring natural elements.

Author and teacher Kate Narita has complied a list of Must Haves for teachers, andAchoo! Why Pollen Counts made her list! Check out Achoo! and her complete list here.And don't miss all the free Teaching Activities and Quizzes​on Arbordale's Achoo! Why Pollen Countspage.

May 16, 2018

It’s spring in Boston, but I’m looking forward to September. I’m excited to announce Cheetah Dreams, written by Linda Stanek and published by Arbordale, will be released. It’s my 14th Arbordale book - and I promise the art will knock your socks off! Check out its Arbordale page

Linda and I also brought you the 10th Children’s Choice Award-winning Once Upon an Elephant, and also Night Creepers! Check them all out over at www.arbordalepublishing.com.

Also HUGE news for Once Upon an Elephant! The book was selected for Choose to Read Ohio 2019 & 2020. Read about it here.

I traveled far from my Boston home to the shores of Oahu to do research for my illustrations. Here's a bit about this amazing book:

Hawaiian locals and visitors always enjoy spotting endangered Hawaiian monk seals, but Honey Girl is an extra special case. She has raised seven pups, and scientists call her “Super Mom.” After Honey Girl is injured by a fishhook, she gets very sick. Scientists and veterinarians work to save Honey Girl so she can be released back to the ocean. This true story will have readers captivated to learn more about this endangered species.

March 03, 2017

HUGE NEWS! Once Upon an Elephant, is a FINALIST in the 10th CHILDREN"S CHOICE BOOK AWARDS. Please consider voting for it! HERE. Voting continues everyday until May 7, 2017. Please share and spread the word!

I cannot tell you how much I loved illustrating Once Upon an Elephant. I have always been fascinated with elephants, my mother bought me replica elephants when I was a little girl - I played safari in our grassy yard. Through my illustrations, I wanted to take the reader on a little journey of Africa, I wanted little children's fingers to touch the animals on the pages and pretend they are on their own safari. I believe through Linda Stanek's words and my art that goal has been accomplished. Check out the book, feel the sun baked Earth, smell the grass, hear the elephants trumpet. Read about how essential elephants are to their environment. Let me know what you think. Check the book out over at Arbordale

February 20, 2017

Hawaiian locals and visitors always enjoy spotting endangered Hawaiian monk seals, but Honey Girl is an extra special case. She has raised seven pups, and scientists call her “Super Mom.” After Honey Girl is injured by a fishhook, she gets very sick. Scientists and veterinarians work to save Honey Girl so she can be released back to the ocean. This true story will have readers captivated to learn more about this endangered species.

To research the book's illustrations, I flew from Boston to Oahu to visit the habitats of Honey Girl. I met with monk seal volunteers and workers who shared their stories of R5AY (aka Honey Girl) and monk seals. My heartfelt thanks goes out to Donna Festa (Lanikai General Store owner) who spent a few days helping me track down monk seals, Diane Gabriel (guide to Honey Girl's beach habitats) who brought me to all of Honey Girl's favorite beaches, Dana Jones (helped Honey Girl during rehab) who shared with me her first hand experiences with Honey Girl, and D. B. Dunlap (The Seal Whisperer) who showed me the hidden world of monk seals on Rabbit Island. I also visited Deb Wickham on the Big Island (Ke Kai Ola Hospital for Monk Seals at Kailua-Kona) who knew just where to find a beached seal. My Hawaiian highlight was visiting the Mt. Kilauea active volcano on the Big Island and climbing over lava formations to reach a beach and observe a seal at sunset.

The Ke Kai Ola Hospital for Monk Seals at Kailua-Kona is run by The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito. This is the amazing hospital that cared for Astro: The Steller Sea Lion, also written by Jeanne Walker Harvey. Jeanne is a dear friend of mine, and I was very fortunate to meet up with her in California on my way home from Hawaii. No trip would be complete without our stopping by The Marine Mammal Center for a visit! My special thanks to you, Jeanne!

A Case of Sense is a Kansas NEA Reading Circle Catalog Selection for 2017 and a Monarch Award Nominee.

While Ming plays outside one summer day, the smell of delicious food fills the air. It is coming from greedy Fu Wang’s house. “What is he up to?” wonders Ming. To his alarm, Fu Wang demands that all the neighbors pay him for the pleasant smells. When the neighbors refuse, the case goes to court. How will the judge rule in this unusual case and will justice be served? Can Fu Wang make money from the neighbors’ sense of smell? A wise judge makes use of another sense to close the case with clever and convincing logic.

I've been a wee bit busy illustrating my next Arbordale book, Night Creepers, written by Linda Stanek. Look for Night Creepers to be released later this year in the fall.

If you would like me to send you a limited edition Achoo! Why Pollen Counts postcard, email me your name and address at sbersani(at)mac(dot)com. I'll be happy to send one out to you - while this batch lasts.

Or check out many more of my books from other publishers on Amazon here. I'm illustrating my 27th picture book, so there are a lot to choose from. You can also scroll through this blog's archives and read more about past releases.

June 25, 2016

I have two new Limited Edition 2016 postcards inspired by Achoo! Why Pollen Counts. I am sending them out to people who send me a photo of themselves reading/holding the book. Check out some of the Reader Photos here: www.achoowhypollencounts.com/photos-of-readers.html I LOVE these!!

Zimbabwe is home to elephants. These children are neighbors to these majestic, endangered animals. The elephants' future is in the hands of these kids. Seeing photos of Once Upon an Elephant in Zimbabwe was very impactful for me.

This is what keeps me illustrating. Opening the minds and hearts of others, one person at a time. Teaching, entertaining, enriching, captivating the reader of the book. Making an impact with my work.

May 04, 2016

Wonderful News! Achoo! Why Pollen Counts was selected as a Foreword Reviews' 2015 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award Finalist in Picture Books - and YOU can help it win the READER'S CHOICE AWARD by leaving #INDIEFABFAVE in the Comments here: https://indiefab.forewordreviews.com/books/achoo-why-pollen-counts/You will need to use Facebook or your Foreword Reviews account for the vote to count.

BONUS: I will send an autographed copy of Achoo! Why Pollen Counts to a randomly selected commenter.

by Jennifer Keats Curtis and J. Adam Frederick, illustrated by Shennen Bersani (Arbordale, $17.95) 978-1-62855-5561-1 Father and daughter scientists discover the habitat of salamanders throughout their life cycle. Photographs and lively, detailed drawings. (6–9)

Foreword Reviews' 2015 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award Finalist

Foreword Reviews Announces Finalists for 2015 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards

Traverse City, MI, March 7, 2016—Foreword Reviews, a media company devoted to reviewing books from small, independent publishers and university presses, is pleased to announce the finalists for its 18th annual INDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards.

Each year, Foreword Reviews shines a light on a select group of indie publishers, university presses, and self-published authors whose work stands out from the crowd. In the next three months, a panel of more than 130 volunteer librarians and booksellers will determine the winners in 66 categories based on their experience with readers and patrons.

“The 2015 INDIEFAB finalist selection process is as inspiring as it is rigorous,” said Victoria Sutherland, publisher of Foreword Reviews. “The strength of this list of finalists is further proof that small, independent publishers are taking their rightful place as the new driving force of the entire publishing industry.”

Foreword Reviews will celebrate the winners during a program at the American Library Association Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida in June. We will also name the Editor’s Choice Prize 2015 for Fiction, Nonfiction and Foreword Reviews’ 2015 INDIEFAB Publisher of the Year Award during the presentation.

Visit www.achoowhypollencounts.com for lots of free coloring pages and photos from around the world of pollen, bees, and plants - and more! Lots of information to help children discover pollen and pollination.

FINALLY I also want to mention I was a recent Guest Post on the fabulous Elizabeth Dulemba's Blog. Learn more about me and check out my interview here. Thank you Elizabeth for allowing me to share with your readers.

"A picture book teaching children about pollen, the pollination process, and bees. The story follows a baby bear who is allergic to pollen. He learns how pollen is used by other insects and animals such as spiders, butterflies, honey bees, hummingbirds, and more. This book can be added as an extension for lessons about flowers and pollination to help students see additional benefits and uses of pollen."

Wonderful news for both books! Children in classrooms across the country will be learning and discovering new lessons on such important topics as pollen, the pollination process, bees, symbiotic relationships, mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.

Both of these books are published by Arbordale. You can check their website for ten of my books, or find even more of my books on Amazon.

One more thing I want to share! I received these marvelous bears and butterflies in the mail from Reagan (5) and Elijah (3). They are so precious I have hung them in my studio! Thank you so much for thinking of me. I will cherish them. :)

January 14, 2016

The year 2016 has ushered in changes. I'll be stepping out of my comfort zone, doing a lot of traveling over the next few months. Meeting new people, breaking misconceptions. Over time I'll be blogging about my travels. As an author, I'm taking notes, researching, fleshing out new books. Strap your seatbelt on, I'm taking you on my journey!

"Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore," Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz. Okay, it wasn't Kansas I left behind, it was freezing cold - snow on the ground - Boston, MA. And it was JetBlue that deposited me safely to my destination - not a raging tornado. Never the less, my heart was pounding like young Dorothy's. I had never been to Orlando, FL. Cheery blossoming flowers, swaying palm trees, fields of green grass greeted me… it felt surreal, it felt like I'd landed in Oz.

Our second day, Friday January 8, we took a bus to tour Buckhead Beef, a meat processing plant. I should start by saying what I had expected to see. As a young child back in the '60s my mother shopped at the local grocery store, First National. The front of the store had canned and boxed groceries, the rear was a glass wall. This glass wall was a fishbowl, of sorts, peering into the world of the stained white lab coated butcher. Dead cows hung from hooks, the butcher chopped and packaged the meat, I in awe would stare transfixed from the other side. More amazing to me was how my mother transformed all these marbled pink and red pieces into our sumputous Sunday dinners. Rather archaic and bloody was the butcher in the fishbowl. That is what I had expected to see at Buckhead Beef. Boy, was I in for a surprise. Buckhead Beef is a large facility, Florida's #1 purveyor of Certified Angus branded products. No glassed in walls, just doors to hold in the very cold temperatures. Hair netted and clean lab coated, we basically walked into an enormous refrigerator/freezer. The chilly temperatures keep the meat fresh. Some of my fellow authors donned offered jackets to wear under our lab coats, I having just come from FREEZING COLD BOSTON went in sans jacket. Just giving you some tactile imagery here - honestly we were also wearing gloves and we not allowed to touch anything. But in the freezer section the cold did bite into the skin a bit. Nothing different than the city I flew out of, only in Florida one doesn't expect to shiver.

Once inside, I did not see bloody butchers with huge butcher knives. I didn't see blood, I saw raw meat and very hardworking employees - some on the floor for 19-20 years. The building was immaculate and clean. Workers had cutting knives like you might see a fine chef using. They wore safety gloves to protect their hands from cuts. These men and women were amazing at their jobs, trimming, cutting, preparing, packaging Angus beef for Buckhead's clients. State of the art machinery measured fat content in ground beef, conveyor belts has scales built into them, weighing pieces as they passed by. X-ray machines looked for foreign objects. This plant was amazing. The food that leaves its doors is top notch. I feel honored to have toured the facility.

After lunch our bus brought us to our next destination, Country Oaks Angus Ranch. Here we were greeted by the Freel family. Bill and Megan Freel, and their family, daughters Erin and Molly, son-in-laws, and granddaughters Reagan, 9, and Riley, 14. We had already met Erin, she was part of our overall group as she videotaped our author experience. (She is an amazing woman who really inspired me, but I'll save that for a later blog post.) Bill Freel, D.V.M., is a large animal veterinarian. The photos above are Angus cows and calves from his 200 acre ranch.

Here I need to explain the different names for cattle. Though this gets more detailed, basically a COW is a female who has had a CALF. A CALF is a baby, regardless of sex. A HEIFER is a female who hasn't had a calf, yet. A neutered male is a STEER. An un-neutered male is a BULL.

Molly Rowe, her husband, and daughters live in the adjoining property with cattle of their own. A hayride brought us authors easily through both properties, stopping at both while the Freels/Rowes answered all our questions. These people live on their farm and work it, everyday of the year. One quote we were told was, "The cows don't know it's Christmas." Gift opening took a backseat to morning routines of feeding cattle. Everything we saw, heard and experienced was grand, but the highlight of our farm visit was meeting Riley and Reagan. These young girls were amazing. Highly intelligent, caring and committed, the future of farming in America is bright with youth such as these two girls. They raise show animals for 4-H and were proud to share them with us. For each animal they keep records, describing the animal, keeping track of expenses, depreciation of equipment - these bound folders were organized and put together comparable to a college thesis. These girls were truly amazing, and I'm proud to have met them.

Our third day, Saturday, January 9, 2016. This was the day we had lunch with a farmer. I happened to be the fortunate author who had two farmers. Honestly, I feel I was blessed. The first one I met was Emily Edmondson from Virginia. Emily quickly broke a couple misconceptions - first she was a woman farmer, and second she introduced herself as an Episcopal Priest. Emily had brought along Norm Hyde from the Farm Bureau of Virginia. Norm was there to share a video of Emily's farm, and to document the author event with photography. Okay, so I'm from Boston - the land of Red Sox baseball caps. My other farmer had me grin from ear to ear when he introduced himself. Wearing a marvelous cowboy hat was Jim Strickland from Southern Florida. Here's where I was blessed. My fellow authors had one-on-one lunches with a farmer. I had two - from very different locations. Emily's ranch is seated in the rolling green mountains of Virginia, down near Tennessee. She has her share of cold, snowy days. Her farm sustains itself by growing grass in the summer, mowed and gathered in the fall, and fed to her cattle in the winter. Jim's farm is down in Southern Florida - his cattle don't know snow. They graze alongside his orange trees and honeybees. Wildflower honey. I'm told the best kind there is! Where the Freel ranch has 200 acres in central Florida, Jim has 20,000 acres at the bottom of the state. My brain was quickly trying to visualize and compare. Each farmer I met had similarities, and differences. They all have to work hard 365 days a year tending to their cattle. But they all faced different challenges in their day to day ranching.

Farming is not an easy life one takes. Many of the farmers come from a long line of farmer families. Fourth and even fifth generations. All the farmers I met were highly educated, hard working, compassionate people. They care about each and every animal they raise. They raise healthy, strong animals. They grieve if one dies. These farmers want to raise the best, healthiest food possible. They don't just raise it for slaughter and send it off, they consume it and feed it to their families. They take pride in feeding America, and even exporting to the world. By 2050 the world population is expected to increase to 9 billion people. We are asking our farmers to keep feeding us the highest quality food, all while their farmland is diminishing. Farmers are the Original Environmentalists. They need to take extremely good care of their land so it can sustain their crops, their cattle, their families. I was humbled to have met with the Freels, Rowes, Emily Edmondson, and Jim Strickland.

Us authors started our fourth day, Sunday, January 10, 2016, with an early (farmers' time) breakfast at the Convention Center. This was part of the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show. Fifteen hundred farmers were in attendance. Here, while those 1,500 people ate flapjacks, the twelve of us were introduced onstage. Farmers from Massachusetts later found me and introduced themselves. I'll be mentioning them in a later blog post. Really, though, the highlight of the morning was introducing the American Farm Bureau Book of the Year. Each farmer was given a copy. Fellow author, and now friend, Susan Grigsby was the author of the book, First Peas to the Table. The serendipitous thing about her book was it was illustrated by Nicole Tadgell - Nicole lives in Massachusetts and I've known her for years. We used to meet at the same critique group. Upon arriving home, I was delighted to tell Nicole about the award.

I leave this post coming back to how I started my journey - being the author of Achoo! Why Pollen Counts. Pollen is that smallest of male gamete which spreads, fertilizes, and starts all plant life. Plants to feed humans and animals. No matter how much it makes us sneeze, or covers our cars, or annoys us, it's what gives us food in crops, shelter from trees, honey from bees - and snow! http://www.noaa.gov/features/02_monitoring/snowflakes_2013.html Thank you for reading this post, come back later as I continue my 2016 author/illustrator researching and adventures.

I got right into my research for these illustrations! The Blue-spotted salamanders come out of their winter hibernation to mate in vernal pools in the middle of a rainy night, March to early April (dependent on the weather conditions each year). Searching night after night - I finally caught them! I drove to Bolton, Massachusetts, where they crossed the road in droves at midnight - in the cold rain. A number of passionate volunteers tried slowing down cars to keep them from being run over in the dark. (Amazed me how many vehicles were out so late on an out-of-the-way back road!) The species is of Special Concern in Massachusetts - here is a great document with all the facts http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dfg/nhesp/species-and-conservation/nhfacts/ambystoma-laterale.pdf

May 08, 2015

Historic conditions in Chicago! New Jersey is washed over, New York is under siege, how are YOU fairing this year's POLLEN TSUNAMI? Well, do I have the PERFECT book to teach your children about POLLEN and why it is important. No, it is nothing to sneeze at! It is important to the pollination process and our environment.

In Achoo! Why Pollen Counts Baby Bear has an allergy problem. He's allergic to pollen and wishes it was GONE! But with help from Momma Bear and his forest friends he learns the importance of pollen to the forest - and himself. Maybe pollen isn't so bad after all!

Visit the book's official website: www.achoowhypollencounts.com to learn more about the book, a lot more about pollen, see gorgeous photos of pollen from around the world, download free coloring pages - and more!

April 02, 2015

My first authored book, Achoo! Why Pollen Counts, written and illustrated by me, Shennen Bersani, is being released later this month from Arbordale Publishing. Pollen and bees are in the air in these illustrations from the book. Learn more about the book, and pollen, at the book's website www.achoowhypollencounts.com. Preorder the book on Amazon in English or in Spanish.

March 20, 2015

I am so excited for the release of Achoo! Why Pollen Counts next month! I have a new website just for the book. Here you will learn more about the book, the importance of pollen, and the pollination process.

Do you know how a snowflake is formed?

Do you know which butterflies eat pollen?

Did you know there are spiders who eat pollen as a source of protein?

Why is pollen so important to us and the earth? How do pollinators help us?

Pollen is SO much more than an allergen. SO MUCH more than sticky yellow dust!

While you are there take a look at all the Arbordale Publishing books I've illustrated. Every Arbordale book has these terrific free resources - perfect for teachers, homeschoolers, or those extra inquisitive kids who can't learn enough about a subject and always want to know more!

March 17, 2015

All my new books have been arriving! 2015 marks a very special year in my illustration career - the release of five new books AND my first authored book. The first four have arrived, and next month - April - will herald in the release of Achoo! Why Pollen CountsWritten and Illustrated by me, Shennen Bersani, Arbordale Publishing.

"Spring has arrived and pollen is in the air. Baby Bear does not like the pollen—it sticks to his fur and makes him itchy and sneezy. He’s allergic! Achoo! He just wishes the pollen were gone. But when his friends gather to tell him why they need pollen, Baby Bear learns that pollen is good for the forest and provides food for many animals, including him!"

June 20, 2013

I'm excited to be posting for this week's The Next Big Thing Blog Tour. This chain letter, of sorts, started over in Australia, and it's surfed its way to me - in Boston. I was tagged by one of my favorite illustrators, Cathy Morrison, who last week told us about her upcoming Dino Tracks! Boy those guys look mighty terrific, don't they?

I said surfed its way to me 'cause here comes Shark Baby, surfing in now!!

What is the working title of your new book?

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I'm the illustrator of Shark Baby, so we would have to ask the author, Ann Downer, where she got her idea for the story. But I can tell you I jumped at the chance to illustrate a baby shark book! I've illustrated a number of ocean books with sharks in them as well as adult sharks in Sharks: Big, Bigger, Biggest, Scholastic 2005. In Shark Baby, the anthropomorphic story of a baby shark learning his place in the world excited me! OH the places he and I would go together!

What genre does your book fall under?

Shark Baby is a children's picture book. I'd hate to give an age limit to it, I'd like to say it's for all who are young at heart.

Which actors would you choose to play in your movie rendition?

Oh, my, it might be a stretch for him since he's not a shark, but I'd have to cast Nemo. I think Dory might pass as one of the seahorses.

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

A new to be born shark, curious of his existence, finds out who he really is.

We would have to ask Ann Downer how long it took her to write her first draft, but I can tell you how long it took for me to do the illustrations. After reading the manuscript, the first thought I had was - I need to visit the kelp forest! My second thought was - wouldn't it be awesome to go swim with a manatee, like Shark Baby does! So I flew to Crystal River, Florida and swam with manatee; and then I crossed the country and experienced the kelp forest first hand at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, drove up to San Fransisco where I examined horn shark egg cases at the California Academy of Science and finally got really close to an adult swell shark at the Aquarium of the Bay. These were all exciting adventures! I came home to Boston and then sketched away! It took a couple months to do all of this.

What other books would you compare this story to within your own genre?

One of my most cherished childhood books, Are You My Mother?, comes to mind.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Our last question for Ann, but I can say my deep love of the ocean and all its inhabitants inspired my illustrations.

What else about the book might pique the reader's interest?

Mother Ocean carries Shark Baby through various ocean habitats where he encounters a variety of sea creatures. Young children will connect with his feelings and emotions as he searches to find himself. I think the illustrations are just awesome and kids will simply love them! And as a bonus, they can travel underwater and not get wet. :-)

As a little tease for next year, I've already gone back to the Monterey Bay Aquarium to do research for Sea Slime: It's Eeuwy, Gooey, and Under the Sea, written by Ellen Prager, Sylvan Dell Publishing 2014.

Now it's time for me to tag two more people! Next week I'm tagging Ann Downer! Ann has two books releasing this year and she'll be telling us about her fall release, Wild Animal Neighbors: Sharing Our Urban World. I love the cover and I can't wait to learn more about the book.